Cable Looks to Make a Splash at Golden Globes, SAG Awards
Cable came out strong this week as two major accolade-awarding organizations in the television industry, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, released the list of shows and actors competing for honors in early 2016. The Golden Globes nominations included 27 for cable. HBO and Starz scored the most for cable shows, earning seven and six nominations, respectively. HBO’s Game of Thrones returns for recognition in the drama series category, and Starz’s Outlander snatched a spot in this area as well. Showtime’s The Affair, which won last year, was not nominated this year, but Maura
INTX Call for Speakers Needs YOU!
Our connected world is ushering in rapid transformation and redefining the consumer communications experience. Everything in media and entertainment is being reexamined. How do the thought leaders of today and tomorrow keep up? And more importantly, how do you make sure your finger is on the pulse of change? The answer is INTX: The Internet and Television Expo. INTX is the annual event that represents the entire online entertainment and technology ecosystem in one place. It’s speakers, workshops, events, and exhibits on everything from IoT to OTT, second screens to skinny bundles. But just as
Spotlight: ARRIS Brings Connectivity to Latin America
We talk a lot about the cable industry within the United States, but what about the trends and challenges going on in regions beyond the U.S.? I recently spoke with German Iaryczower, senior vice president of sales at ARRIS for the Caribbean and Latin America regions to find out a little bit about the work they are doing with cable operators in the region and how their market differs from ours in the United States. ARRIS provides cable operators with high-speed data, video and telephony systems for homes and businesses, but in the Latin American market, the state of the economy creates a fork
Latest Data Reveals Unexpected Trends in DC's Relationship with the Internet
In Google’s largest consumer survey ever, Onward Internet asked over 100,000 people to quantify their feelings about the Internet. Onward Internet is a special project from NCTA designed not only as a way to learn more about American’s relationship with the Internet, but to provide a freely accessible data resource for anyone curious about shifting Internet sentiments. The nine question survey (you can still take it here) wasn’t just about the things Americans love about the Internet, but the thing they most want to see change as well. The survey’s data has revealed surprising trends in an
The Net Neutrality Saga Moves (Again) to the Courts
Tomorrow, the DC Circuit Court will hear oral arguments on the FCC’s Open Internet (aka Net Neutrality) Order, which reclassified broadband as Title II service subject to public utility-style regulation. We strongly believe that the reclassification of broadband under Title II was wrong as a matter of law and potentially disastrous as a matter of policy. Tomorrow’s argument will consider the former issue – whether or not the FCC had the legal authority to impose Title II common carrier regulation on ISPs as a basis for adopting Net Neutrality rules. The argument is not about preserving an open
Saying Goodbye to the Integration Ban
The old adage that it is harder to eliminate rules than pass new ones largely stands the test of time, but Friday, December 4 will mark an important victory for consumers and innovation when a FCC rule called the Integration Ban will be sunset. Why Friday? Because that was the date established during last year’s reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2014, also known as STELAR. The Integration Ban was an unnecessary technology mandate from the late 1990’s that cost billions of dollars with no real consumer benefit. We’d like to take a moment to recognize how
Why Holiday Movies Thrive on Cable
The Los Angeles Times recently came out with an article on the rise of holiday programming popularity on cable networks, particularly the made-for-TV holiday movies. Citing Nielsen sources from last year, the Timesreports that Hallmark’s ratings doubled during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, while the small UP TV network saw a 74 percent rise in ratings. Though TV Everywhere and apps have opened the doors for us to watch anything we want while on the go or on any device, there’s something about the holiday season that makes the classic era of television gatherings come alive
INTX is a Social Experience in More Ways than One
It may seem far away, but May 16th 2016, the day INTX kicks off in Boston, is just around the corner. INTX is the industry’s can’t-miss event, the ultimate coming together of the digital economy’s builders, creators and visionaries. In other words, INTX is an event as much about connections and conversations as it is about attending programs and visiting the Marketplace floor. That’s why we’ve taken such care in curating great digital spaces that ensure you can get the most out of your Boston experience. First, there’s @intxNCTA, INTX’s home on Twitter. Here you’ll find a steady stream of show
Why NCTA Asked 100,000 Americans How They Feel About the Internet
When we talk about the cable industry’s impact on the Internet, we usually highlight things like building broadband networks, increasing Internet speeds, deploying Wi-Fi hotspots and making TV Everywhere a reality. But what we don’t often focus on are things that are less tangible, like how each one of use has an individual relationship with the Internet that shapes and affects its future. Some might say more esoteric ideas like this are best left to the deep thinkers and visionaries that drive technology and not the infrastructure builders like us. But we say the two are the same. As an
Kids and Technology: Good or Bad?
It’s nearly impossible to find kids these days without phones, iPads or some other electronic device in their hands. Older generations grew up without this kind of connectivity, and many of us can’t help but wonder if this new way of life for children is an advantage or detriment to their growth and maturity. But according to a new study, the majority of parents actually view technology use by their children as a plus for their futures. The Family Online Safety Institute recently gathered responses from parents on how they perceive technology in their kids’ lives. Questions ranged from how